Extensive Structural Differences of Closely Related 3´ mRNA Isoforms: Links to Pab1 Binding and mRNA Stability (Molecular Cell)

Alternative polyadenylation generates numerous 3´ mRNA isoforms. Moqtaderi et al. demonstrate that near-identical 3´ mRNA isoforms can have dramatically different structures in vivo, largely due to differential mRNA-protein interactions. Sequences responsible for isoform-specific structures, differential association with poly(A)-binding protein (Pab1), and mRNA stability are evolutionarily conserved, indicative of biological function.